Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu Time Travel! This is your girl, Emma, here, back with another whirlwind trip through the captivating history of ballet. This month, we're swirling our way to the City of Lights - Paris - where ballet history unfolded like a beautifully choreographed ballet in the summer of 1874. It's time to polish up our tutus, gather our Parisian chic, and ride Magic Meg, our pink sparkly Shire horse with her golden hooves and flowing white mane and tail, to the heart of the world's most celebrated ballet scene!
Oh my, I do love a good time-travel trip! The excitement bubbling inside me is as fierce as the blush on my pink tutu - a vintage piece, darling, all hand-stitched and trimmed with delicate lace. I adore anything with pink in it! Today's adventure? It's all about the thrill of the grand ballet spectacle in Paris, 1874, and exploring the fashionable ballet trends of the era. So, strap yourselves in, my loves, as we gallop into the past!
This month, as I always do, I'm going to make a contribution to my "Every Ballerina in a Pink Tutu" mission! After all, this is the Pink Tutu blog, so every time I time travel, I share pink tutu ideas. But it's important that each pink tutu is appropriate for the time I'm visiting. And who doesn't love to be able to find a little history when you're trying to choose the right pink tutu, or when you're dancing in a performance? So here it goes - This is blog post number 2564, and it is also part of a historical record on pink tutus!
My Inspiration This Month
As I gallop Magic Meg across the English countryside from my home in Derbyshire, my mind is filled with the wonder of Paris, a city that breathes history and art through every cobbled street and ornate building. My latest project: collecting information on "Les Ballet de la Paris Opera", and how it inspired dancers of the time, so you can understand why pink tutus came about in the style we all wear in this modern age. Of course, there was nothing as spectacular as a ballerina wearing a pink tutu until later, but even in 1874, Parisian Ballet was something incredibly special - a spectacle, and all eyes were on the dancers. It was like the modern world - ballet dancers had to stand out in a very busy scene! We had some real trailblazers who made a pink tutu more acceptable to the masses! I wonder who would have ever thought about putting their leg in one of these fantastic garments.
What Makes 1874 Such A Memorable Year In Ballet
What better way to celebrate a new season of dance than a a breathtaking glimpse into the Parisian Opera’s extraordinary legacy? Back in August of 1874, the "Opera Garnier", or “The Palace of the Opera" was buzzing with excitement. This iconic, opulently designed opera house had just opened its doors and the city was alight with the buzz of new opera and ballet performances, it was a theatre of immense architectural grandeur, with gilded balconies, shimmering chandeliers, and a breathtaking stage that had every ballerina, opera singer and patron of the arts utterly starstruck. The Parisian ballet was about to step onto its grand stage and showcase its grace and finesse - oh it must have been beautiful!
Where to Find 1874 Fashion Inspiration
Speaking of the dance, as always, I'll be looking for the ultimate 1874 ballet fashion! There were few ballet schools that catered to those with such fine tastes, but a beautiful Parisian style ballet school is located near the theatre, called "The Conservatory of Dance and Music". There's a shop next door which sells costumes and the latest in ballet gear. You'd never find anything as elaborate in Derbyshire, let me tell you. I wonder if I'll find any vintage inspiration in a "pink tutu"? - I don't think I'll have any luck finding a real tutu in Paris, so I might have to add that to my "wish list". However, a nice pair of pointe shoes would make a good souvenir!
Time Traveling In 1874: A Look Into the World of Ballet
As I write these words, I’m back home in my Derbyshire cottage, the soft summer evening light pouring in, painting my pink-tutu clad studio with warmth. I am surrounded by memories and treasures, stories I’ve collected and the stories behind the amazing performances that take place around the world! But I must remind you that today we're looking back at a time before these beautiful ballet dances and the amazing, iconic Pink Tutus we all enjoy! It's a completely different ballet fashion! This is not the world of beautiful, hand crafted and sewn tulle and ruffles - instead the Paris of 1874 saw the use of delicate layers of silk and the traditional, short ballerina skirt or tunic, so it's still very elegant, but nothing like the incredible tulle masterpieces we all admire.
As for the actual choreography at the Parisian Opera back then - think elegance, refinement, graceful turns, expressive movements, a focus on fluid and technically masterful choreography - everything a ballet lover enjoys. Imagine delicate steps and soaring leaps, everything you see in today's performances!
The Importance of Tradition
It was a world of classical ballet, the legacy of ballet greats from previous generations like Marie Taglioni and Fanny Cerrito. It's these dancers, their skills and fashion which helped make ballet what it is today. These stars set the foundation, so that the world would then adore the performances which we have come to love!
But before we lose ourselves in that beauty and refinement - let's have a cuppa! There's nothing better to celebrate time-traveling ballet history than with a lovely hot brew. Let’s toast to the grand spectacle that ballet was in 1874! As always, I would love to hear from you my darlings - what are your favorite parts of ballet history? Do any of your favourite dances stem from 1874? Leave me a comment! Don’t forget to visit Pink-Tutu.com - it’s a blog that every ballet aficionado should have on their reading list!
And lastly, never be afraid to express yourself - go ahead, get out your tutus! Let your heart lead you through your dancing adventures and share them with the world. See you next month!
**Your Time-Traveling, Tutu-Loving Blogger,
Emma**
P.S. Let's hear it for a good horse-drawn carriage ride in the English countryside and for Magic Meg. I wonder where next month will take us. The Pink Tutu time traveler!
